First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1wad
noun \ˈwäd\
: a small mass or ball of soft material
: a thick roll or folded pile of paper money or papers
: a large amount of money
Full Definition of WAD
1
: a small mass, bundle, or tuft: as a : a soft mass especially of a loose fibrous material variously used (as to stop an aperture, pad a garment, or hold grease around an axle) b (1) : a soft plug used to retain a powder charge or to avoid windage especially in a muzzle-loading gun (2) : a felt or paper disk used to separate the components of a shotgun cartridge c : a small mass of a chewing substance <a wad of gum>
2
: a considerable amount (as of money)
3
a : a roll of paper money b : money
See wad defined for English-language learners
See wad defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of WAD
Middle English wadde, from Medieval Latin wadda
Related to WAD
- Synonyms
- abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, myriad, oodles, pack, passel, peck, pile, plateful, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, pot, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, sheaf, shipload, sight, slew, spate, stack, store, ton, truckload, volume, lot, wealth, yard
2wad
verb
: to crush or press (something, such as paper) into a small, tight ball
wad·dedwad·ding
Full Definition of WAD
transitive verb
1
a : to insert a wad into <wad a gun> b : to hold in by a wad <wad a bullet in a gun>
2
: to form into a wad or wadding; especially : to roll or crush into a tight wad
3
: to stuff or line with some soft substance
— wad·der noun
See wad defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of WAD
1579
Related to WAD
- Synonyms
- agglomerate, ball, roll, round
- Antonyms
- unroll
WAD Defined for Kids
1wad
noun \ˈwäd\
Definition of WAD for Kids
1
: a small mass or lump of soft material <a wad of tissues> <a wad of chewing gum>
2
: a thick pile of folded money
2wad
verb
wad·dedwad·ding
Definition of WAD for Kids
: to crush or press into a small tight mass
Learn More About WAD
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up wad? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).